Maria Alyokhina

What started as a youthful expression in the quasi-democratic republic of Russia has turned into an international pop scandal. On February 21, a punk band consisting of three women did what — in my opinion — only oppressed citizens feeling they have nothing to lose and everything to gain would dare do. The young women, dressed in vibrant colored outfits, donning balaclavas, stormed the altar at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow to perform their song/prayer “Mother of God, Drive Putin Out.” They were arrested and have been imprisoned for the past five months. Sentencing for their act is scheduled for August 17, but it’s looking like more like it’s Putin’s regime that’s up for scrutiny among his own people and the global community.